Freelancers are self-employed people who are not necessarily committed to a particular job long term. They work under contracts. Freelancers are responsible for all sorts of things that day jobs employees are not such as:
- Setting their own work hours,
- Billing clients
- Paying their own taxes
- Keeping track of all time spent on different projects
Freelance work however cannot happen in all careers for instant surgery requires a surgeon to be fully there and not work at times they feel like.
The following are the fields that hire most freelancers:
- Customer service
- Editing
- Administrative
- Human resource
- Information Technology and Computer
- Accounting and Finance
- Education
- Medical and Health
Day jobs are considered full time employment that employees do to earn money. They mostly involve working from 9-5pm Monday to Friday. Most people like full time employment because it provides financial stability, health insurance and corporate social packages among others.
Most employees yearn to make money and will therefore may not mind having a boss. While other people strive to be their own boss so that they can make their own “executive” choices.
This article will explore both the Pros and Cons of freelancing and day jobs:
1.Social life
It is easier for day job employees to make meaningful connection with other employees since they interact on a daily basis. Employees are also already there making it easy to make friends. The company can also organize social trips to ensure bonding between employees.
Freelancers lack this opportunity because most of the time they work alone at the comfort of their own homes. This limits their interactions because most of the time they are in isolation. Even when they work in the companies instead, they are only there for a short while. Therefore making stronger bonds is hard.
On the flip side though, freelancers have ample time to spend with their families and loved ones, they can always make time for their friends and family. Full-time employees on the other hand, have no control of their work schedule and can be left with less time to spend with family.
2.Direction and Motivation
Full time employees have bosses and supervisors who provide structure and ensures they work in fulfilling the company’s objectives. The bosses also mentor the employees and can provide immediate feedback on their work.
At the end of every year there are performance reviews which also determine if you are to get a salary incremental bonus, incentive or a promotion.
Freelancers lack this and have to motivate themselves and create their own structure otherwise they might end up procrastinating on their jobs.
As a freelancer you have extra duties like marketing your products, looking for clients and negotiating your own contracts. You have to make yourself visible in the open market for you to get a job.
3.Control and Freedom
With bosses and supervisors managing employees in a day job, they lack any freedom to do as they wish. They have to adhere to the policies and regulations of the company otherwise they risk getting fired. Any ideas they have they must run them by their managers or supervisors.
Freelancers have total control over their work. They can choose what to work on, when to work, and how long to work. They can choose which assignments to work on and reject others.
With each assignment they get new bosses and therefore don’t have to deal with people they find difficult to collaborate with.
4.Security and Stability
Full-time employees enjoy the stability provided by their jobs in terms of a salary every end of the month. They also get a job security by contracts that they sign enabling them not to be fired whenever their bosses wish.
They have a predictable working schedule and predictable income. Additionally, they get their health insurance and that of their family covered. In the event they are to be fired they have to get a notice few months prior so that they can prepare themselves.
Freelancing is very unstable. So you may get many gigs this month and fail to secure any the next month. This makes it hard for it to be reliable.
Freelancers will not be paid for days they have not worked, and their salary keep on fluctuating. Therefore, making it difficult for any budgetary plans.
They have to keep a balance of good and bad days so that they can sustain themselves even in bad days. Freelancers might lose some of their customers if they fail to maintain an interactive online presence.
To pay for their insurance they have to keep working and maintain this relationship with their multiple clients otherwise they face business closure.
On the bright side they can offer their services to many businesses at once. Also when they meet the deadlines they get paid enabling them earn more.
5.Work benefits
Some organizations provide trainings for their employees to boost their skills. They can pay for them to acquire these skills in different higher institutions of learning.
Day jobs employees therefore have a chance to improve their skills, get paid vacations, sick leaves, parental leaves, health and retirement benefits.
Freelancers have to pay for schools to boost their skills. They also have to plan for their retirement and save for the health insurance in case of an emergency. They are not paid when they take sick or parental leave.
Conclusion
Day jobs and freelancing are very different and with different benefits. Before one can ditch one for the other it is important to know their advantages and disadvantages.
If you choose to freelance, we have an article here on how you can get started with blogging. Click here to read on avoidable mistakes online businesses make.
